A Tasteful Gift Blog

Menu

The kids are asleep and the adults are getting things together for the Holidays. Enjoy these delicious and easy recipes that are sure to be a hit.

During the holiday season some drinks are most loved and welcomed by the adults. Besides, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years right around the corner, what better time then now to break out the recipe book and start enjoying some of your favorite adult beverages?

Colonial Hot Buttered Rum

1 cup of rum

1/2 cup light cream

3 whole cloves

1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

1 cinnamon stick

1 quart of hot water

1/4 cup butter

A pinch of salt

1 cup of brown sugar

Combine all ingredients, except rum, into a sauce pan & simmer until hot. Turn of heat and slowly stir in the rum. Pour into four mugs, and enjoy!

Peppermint Martini

1 fluid ounce peppermint schnapps

10 fluid ounces vanilla-flavored vodka

4 fluid ounces white crème de menthe

Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into 4 glasses and garnish with a candy cane. Enjoy the holidays the right way, with this delicious holiday-inspired martini!

Gingerbread Martini

4 tablespoons ginger liqueur

2 cups of ice cubes

2 tablespoons of sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons of coffee-flavored rum

4 teaspoons of whipping cream

4 tablespoons of vanilla-citrus liqueur

Crushed ginger snaps

Rim the glasses with ginger liqueur and the ginger snaps. Then, add the ingredients to the shaker and shake, shake, shake. Finally, strain into 2 martini glasses, and enjoy a holiday favorite with a delicious twist!

Candy canes are a well know Christmas treat. Some families hang them on their tree and others receive them in their stocking. Whatever the case, candy canes are a sweet treat that are a staple of the holidays.

Candy Cane Fudge

Who doesn’t love fudge during the holidays? But how about fudge with a delicious peppermint twist! This recipe is so simple, it only requires 3 ingredients. A cup of crushed candy canes, a 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, and 20 ounces of white chocolate chips.

Pour the white chocolate chips into a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Slowly stir in the condensed milk, and mix until the white chocolate chips are completely melted. Next, stir in the candy canes and begin spreading the mixture evenly on your already foiled and greased baking pan. Finally, place your fudge in the fridge for 2 hours – and enjoy!

Candy Cane Popcorn

This recipe, like the one above, only requires 3 ingredients. Enjoy a delicious sweet and tasty treat for the holidays, without working over a hot stove for hours! Hey what better way to enjoy a Christmas movie, than with a bowl of popcorn, right? But this isn’t just any ordinary of popcorn, this is a savory sweet candy cane flavored popcorn that is sure to set the holiday mood.

You will need 1 cup of uncooked popcorn, 9 candy canes (crushed), and 6 ounces of confectioners coating – vanilla flavored. After popping the popcorn, place it in a large bowl and pour the melted coating over the top along with the crushed candy canes. Mix it all together with your hands. Let the mixture cool, and hit play on your movie!

Candy Cane Cocoa

Imagine spending Christmas Eve, and the days leading up to it, enjoying a cup of warm cocoa by the fire. Now imagine a touch of peppermint to add to the already intense flavor. Go ahead and let the kids grab a candy cane off the tree, you’re going to need it for this recipe!

You will need 5 cups of milk, 5 ounces of chocolate chips, 5 crushed candy canes, and whipped cream. Mix the milk, chocolate chips, and candy canes in a medium pan and heat thoroughly until the ingredients have blended together. Pour the hot cocoa into 5 cups, top with whipped cream and allow the kids to grab 5 whole candy canes from the tree. Place one candy cane into each cup as a stirring stick, and voila!

The holidays always bring out the best in people. Thanksgiving is a time for being appreciative for our many blessings. Though gift giving is more deeply associated with Christmas or Birthdays, Thanksgiving can be the perfect time to show just how thankful we are for someone simply being a part of our lives.

Thanksgiving Gift Baskets

Thanksgiving is synonymous with good food. Families come together to enjoy traditional cuisine, share memories, and to show how thankful we are for our lives and our blessings. Sharing gifts is not normally a tradition of thanksgiving, but there are a plethora of reasons as to why one would send a memorable gift, such as a Holiday Gift Basket.

An Empty Seat

An empty seat at the Thanksgiving table sometimes just cannot be avoided. A business trip, can’t afford a road trip this year, whatever the reason – we can’t always be where we want to be. In these cases, you don’t have to sacrifice leaving a lasting impression. In fact, you may still be the talk of the table. Sending a Thanksgiving Gift Basket in your stead can be a sentimental way to let everyone know your heart is there with them, as well as your best wishes.

Corporate Gift Giving

This season, going the extra mile can have lasting benefits. Whether it is your boss, clients, coworkers, employees, or vendors – gift giving can be more than merely a kind gesture. It can be the difference between another greeting card, and a truly meaningful gift that will leave a lasting impression. What is more likely to make a change in your business dealings? A cliché greeting card with a unique name, or a Custom Gift Basket that holds a myriad of gifts, fine wines, and gourmet foods? I’ll give you a hint: Yum!

Just Because

Imagine showing up at your next Thanksgiving get together with a Grand Gourmet Gift Basket in your arms. Before the feast begins, mouthwatering gourmet treats will abound. Not only does it serve as a part of the delicious tidings of the day, but it also acts as a symbolic gesture of warm wishes and love. This holiday season, consider doing something a little different, and enjoy the difference it makes.

Even in this day and age, many are intimidated when it comes to finding the perfect gifts for clients, coworkers, employees, or bosses. With Gift Baskets, however, you can express warm wishes that are sure to be a hit.

The season is upon us where gifting business associates becomes a top priority. Even though, most of us are fairly intimidated by this seemingly daunting task. We want to ensure we give people that we work with – or for, a gift that is thoughtful and will make a lasting impression. But how do we go about doing this? What is the “trick of the trade” when it comes to corporate gifting?

Fear not!

Back to the Basics

We know you want to strengthen your ties to your work force, your brand, or your ability to relate to clients or bosses. This is where understanding the fundamentals of what people will appreciate, can come in handy. True appreciation does not rest in receiving exactly what you wanted. True appreciation rests in knowing that someone put forth effort on your behalf.

This is where you come in.

You do not need to know someone on an intimate level to give them something memorable and personal. Custom Gift Basket options allow you to add a personal touch for each recipient. This does not take long, and may give the recipient a more thoughtful gift than they bargained for.

Custom Gift Basket options also provide a way to exercise what you do know of someone. For example: Perhaps your boss is an avid wine enthusiast. Choosing a Gift Basket that includes a fine wine, or perhaps a small selection of fine wines, shows you went out of your way to give a gift that mattered.

In the event you have no idea about an individual’s likes or interests, a fine Holiday Gift Basket just might be the answer you have been looking for. With a wide array of options and custom arrangements, this gourmet option is sure to gain you some notoriety. Sending a special Gift Basket to each person on your list shows that you did not want to “mass produce” a gift idea, but that thought and effort went into each selection.

Gift Baskets come from the tradition of sending bottles of honey to loved ones on holidays and special occasions. This tradition dates back to 30 B.C. as an offering of tribute.

For centuries it was a tradition to send bottles of honey to friends and family, or to offer honey as a tribute or payment. This tradition spanned thousands of years. What many do not realize, is that we still honor this tradition to this day through the giving of Gift Baskets.

Sweet Delights and Delicacies

Gift Baskets contain a wide variety of foods, items, wines, sweets, and more. These heavenly blends provide those we care about some of the most lavish delights one could want. They continue by representing caring and compassion by encompassing a larger view of what holidays stand for: They stand for unity, putting behind us the issues of the year past, and a deeper knowing of the people we care about most.

It’s all the little things…

Sometimes when it comes to those we hold most dear, it’s the little things that matter most. Knowing the interests and tastes of someone shows the time and effort placed on that relationship. Knowing that your loved one prefers Jamaican Rum Cake to plain chocolate cake, or Raincoast Rosemary Raisin Biscuits rather than plain crackers – means that you know them through and through. It’s not the items at hand, but your deeper understanding that can make the biggest difference.

Gift Baskets can be Grand, or they can be Quaint, but they all show that special attention to detail. This Holiday Season, be sure to give a gift that matters the most. The gift of knowing your loved one, and the delicacies they prefer.

When you think of the holidays, several things probably come to mind: spending quality time with family and friends, some of whom you haven’t seen in months or years; cooking feasts and baking seasonal treats; filling your home with festive decorations; savoring hot cocoa and warm fires; giving to charity; and appreciating all that you have to be thankful for. Unfortunately, the holidays can also be a time of stress for many people. The tradition of giving gifts at this time of year can require a lot of time, effort, and money that busy adults simply don’t have to spare. But there is an alternative – when you opt to give gourmet gift baskets, you can make your life easier, control spending, and ensure happy recipients, especially for family members and friends who are foodies.

Gourmet gift baskets are the perfect present for anyone in your life who savors their food instead of wolfing it down as a matter of course. Some people eat for practicality, others for pleasure. And for those who embrace the latter, a gift basket filled with seasonal delights is the best way to show that you pay attention to what your loved ones enjoy, without having to brave the maddening crowds in search of that perfect gift. Whether you whip up a wine and chocolate display or a cheese and snack gift basket, you can include all the goodies your family and friends adore, personalizing each one to suit the tastes of the intended recipient.

Best of all, you don’t even have to do the heavy lifting, thanks to dedicated connoisseurs that are happy to assemble the perfect holiday gift basket for you. You can easily find the Christmas gift baskets (or even kosher options) you’re looking for, complete with hallmarks of the season, by shopping online. All you have to do is select the size and components that best match the varied tastes of your recipients. From there, you can have completed baskets delivered directly to the foodies in your life, or if you want to add something extra special (like a favorite treat or a treasured bottle of wine), simply have it shipped to you first.

The foodies that populate your group of nearest and dearest family and friends will be overjoyed to receive a gift they can actually use (instead of something you spent hours agonizing over only to have it returned). So make your life easy and treat your fellow foodies to a gift they’re sure to love. Gourmet gift baskets make for the perfect holiday offering for your favorite foodies.

It’s not enough that you spend months agonizing over what gifts to get your closest family members and friends for the holidays – when you work in a corporate office, you may also feel obligated to provide a corporate holiday gift for coworkers, supervisors, clients, vendors, and more, exponentially increasing your stress during this season of giving. And when you’re working with a budget and you have little time to spare, the last thing you want to think about is how to please business associates that you probably don’t even know very well. Instead of giving up and just offering Starbucks gift cards to everyone this year, consider that corporate gift baskets could be the perfect compromise when the holidays roll around.

You’ve no doubt given gift baskets before for all kinds of occasions, probably even for the holidays. And as a result, you’ll see the wisdom in offering a virtual smorgasbord of seasonal goodies to the people in your office. For starters, you have practically unlimited options. For example, you can head to a fancy food supplier in your area to create your own gourmet gift baskets for coworkers and clients, or you can hit up an online outlet that offers exceptional baskets for every occasion. Whether you’re looking for Hanukkah or Christmas gift baskets, you’ll find ready-made options online.

Even better, you can tailor baskets to recipients. Are you looking for a corporate holiday gift basket that’s sized to accommodate an entire office or are you more interested in smaller options that are better suited to individualized gift giving? Do you prefer to give a medley of cheese and crackers or would you rather offer chocolates, wine, or even seasonal specialties like cookies and candy canes? There are options available to suit every budget and food preference, and you don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting when you order online and have your corporate gift baskets assembled, wrapped, and delivered directly to recipients.

If you simply don’t have the time and inclination to shop for a corporate holiday gift or assemble your own basket, you’ll be pleased to find a wide selection of appropriate gift baskets online. You’ll save time, money, and unneeded stress when you opt to go this route for corporate gifting. And this will free you up to enjoy the spirit of the season, devoting yourself to what’s truly important at this special time of year: your family.

It’s getting to be that time of year when people start thinking about decorations, charitable donations, family feasts, Thanksgiving recipes, and gourmet gift baskets full of goodies for family, friends, and coworkers. That’s right – the winter holidays are nearly upon us. It seems like just yesterday that the kids returned to school, but with the leaves falling and that telltale bite in the air that signals impending snowfall, there’s no denying that the holidays are around the corner. And before you start choosing your Christmas gift baskets, you need to think about how you’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Many view this event as the quintessential family holiday, a time to enjoy the bounty they’ve been blessed with. This includes celebrating the loved ones that are still able to get together each year to give thanks for all that they have. But it’s also traditional to mark this special day in our nation’s history with a feast to commemorate the coming together of different cultures to break bread and observe that we are all virtually the same. After all, we all want love, comfort, and security. And we all enjoy a good meal!

The traditional centerpiece of this meal is, of course, the turkey. And there is no shortage of sides to complement the main dish, from potatoes, stuffing, and salad to the many sauces and dressings that exemplify the signature produce of the season. Nature provides a veritable gift basket of tasty treats in the fall, including squash, pumpkins, and cranberries. And all could be found on your holiday table, provided you have the right recipes to whip them into delicious dishes.

While you might have some family Thanksgiving recipes up your sleeve for seasonal favorites like homemade dinner rolls and apple pie, you could always add a few new ones to the mix, or even update some that you’ve grown tired of. And if you’ve never hosted a Thanksgiving dinner before, you could definitely use a hand on the recipe front. Luckily, we’ve got everything you need to feed your family and friends right, with recipes ranging from starter cocktails and hors d’oeuvres straight through to the last bite of pie.

Before you start planning this year’s holiday gift basket selection, you’ll want to spend some time putting together a feast for the special day that kicks off the season of giving. Let visions of a cheese and snack gift basket dance through your head when the holiday shopping starts in earnest. For now, take a gander at some Thanksgiving recipes that are sure to be a hit with everyone lucky enough to be at your table this year.

The holidays bring out the spirit of giving in all of us. And you’re probably already making plans for the gifts you’ll bestow upon your family members and friends when Christmas, Hanukkah, or your particular winter celebration rolls around. While Thanksgiving isn’t usually tied to a tradition of gifting, there’s no better time of year to put some effort into thanking the special people in your life for all they bring to the table – and we’re not talking about Grandma’s sweet potato pie. So don’t wait to put together custom Christmas gift baskets. Instead, show your appreciation for loved ones with gift baskets made for the holiday devoted to gratitude.

There are so many ways to show your appreciation for everything that your loved ones contribute to your life. But the best thing you can do is show that you take an interest in their lives, too. If your friends love to go to the movies, a gift basket featuring popcorn, candy, and passes to a local theater could be just the ticket to express your gratitude for their warm friendship. And if your parents are partial to sweet treats, a holiday gift basket bearing a bevy of cookies and chocolates is the perfect way to let them know how much you treasure their unconditional love.

You can even put together gourmet gift baskets for special coworkers that go out of their way to make your job easier or pick you up when you’re having a particularly hard day. Although you might not know what they like, you can’t really go wrong with a cheese and snack gift basket that will give them something to munch on while they wait for the turkey to roast. Thanksgiving has “giving” right in the name, so why wouldn’t you go out of your way to honor and show your appreciation for the special people in your life?

It never hurts to tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them. But actions speak louder than words. And by putting the time and effort into selecting a unique gift basket that you know the recipient will love, you have the opportunity to speak volumes. It’s rare that people get the gratitude they deserve for the efforts they make, both big and small. But by giving gift baskets this Thanksgiving as tokens of your affection and love, you can let the special people surrounding you know just how much you appreciate them and all that they do to make your life better.

Easter – as with any holiday – is a great way to connect with people in the office. Whether they be old friends or new employees, creating a productive and happy work environment starts with a bit of creativity. I know my experience working in a corporate environment has always been enhanced by bonding opportunities like Birthdays, Christmas and even Easter.

With that in mind, here are 5 ways you can celebrate Easter in the office this year!

1. Plan a corporate Easter egg hunt. This fun event can happen within the office or as a corporate retreat to encourage employee/company bonding! Not only can you have members of the company decorate the eggs in advance to get in the Spring of things, but you can then assign participants to teams and ask them to work together to find them. The team with the most eggs wins! Choose 3 prizes – perhaps a paid day off for first place, a lunch voucher for second and a basket of chocolates for third. Encourage participation by promising food and drinks afterwards for anyone who took part.

2. Organize or cater an Easter themed lunch. Many Florida catering companies will either have pre-set hot holiday menus or help you plan one for your office. Include spins of what you might find at an Easter dinner: Smoked ham sandwiches, potato salad, almond green beans, hot buns, and even individual pies or cakes for dessert. If possible, get some Easter colored napkins, plates or cutlery to make it extra special.

3. Contract the Easter bunny. Give the folks at the office a good chuckle by paying someone – or assigning a particularly out-going colleague – to hop to the office dressed as the Easter bunny and handout candy and chocolate. We all have an inner-child – encourage creativity and productivity by appealing to it. Happy employees mean happy clients!

4. Brighten Up the Office. Literally. Daffodils are quickly coming into season so why not add a little more Spring to the office by giving each and every assistant a bouquet? They’re inexpensive, sunny, very “Easter-ish” and will show the people who do the heavy lifting, how appreciated they are.

5. Gift the office (or your clients) with one of our very special Easter gift baskets. Instead of worrying about which chocolates to get everyone, we make it easy on you by putting together quality arrangements that are elegant, appropriate and delicious! Whether you want a package that’s sweet or salty or both – we have an array of options that will show everyone just how much you care.

Does your office celebrate Easter? When was the last time the Easter bunny brought you a treat? Share your experiences and thoughts with us at the Facebook Page!